Members of the public are invited to give their views on the views at Darwin Gardens Millennium Green at the AGM [Annual General Meeting] this month of the Trust that manages it.
Darwin Gardens Millennium Green was first opened 25 years ago, established as a new park for Ilkley residents, to be forever used as an area for informal recreation and a meeting area for community events.
Previously known as West View Park, the area was originally transformed into a cultivated recreation ground at the start of the 20th century but later suffered from years of neglect. A Trust was set up in 1999 to manage the new Green, which was officially opened by author Jilly Cooper in 2000.
Based on themes of evolution and regeneration, the site comprises an imaginative blend of wildlife-friendly landscaping, fascinating recreational features, community-based artwork, and links to Ilkley’s association with Charles Darwin.
The wildlife hedgerow of 1,000 dedicated bushes and the unique Millennium Maze of 1,000 dedicated flagstones symbolically harmonise the natural and human communities, united by a waterside walkway running through the heart of the site.
[Jilly Cooper at the opening of Darwin Gardens Millennium Green in 2000]
The AGM of the Darwin Gardens Millennium Green Trust is being held on Monday 19th May at 6pm in the Jack Lofthouse Annex at the Clarke Foley Community Hub and members of the public are encouraged to attend and give their views on the use and enjoyment of the park.
The public are always welcome to attend regular meetings of the Trust to hear how Darwin Gardens is cared for and what events and activities are happening within the space.
Darwin Gardens Millennium Green Trust Chair, Cllr Catherine Cheater, says:
"This year is an important one for Darwin Gardens as it is celebrating its 25th anniversary. There will be a new memorial board unveiled for the anniversary celebrations, dedicated to the memory of Frazer Irwin, whose ideas and plans to restore the former West View Park on the edge of Ilkley Moor came to fruition in 2000. There are also exciting events in the pipeline, so do please keep an eye on social media and the website."
More information about the Darwin Gardens Millennium Green Trust can be found on the dedicated Darwin Gardens website, along with a copy of the agenda for this year’s AGM, being held on Monday 19th May at 6pm: DGT AGM Agenda 19.05.25
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